Lori J. Fitzgerald's Blog, page 3
June 16, 2014
Guest Post: Medievalist and Author William Hahn and Games of Chance
Huzzah! I'm honored to have fellow medievalist William Hahn on my blog today to discuss one of his main characters in his new release, Judgement's Tale I: Games of Chance. Prince Gareth may well come to be one of my favorite characters in the series, as he already has bonus points for a namesake in one of the Knights of the Round Table! I am so impressed with the detail and scope that Will has created in his world The Lands of Hope, and I'm positive you will be too. Make sure you check out the link to the Gareth excerpt below. Will is a regular blogger on the Independent Bookworm, and his creativity and witty personality make his posts a blast to read. Also check out the book trailer and Will's Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes and Nobles links. And don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway!
I’m delighted at the chance to address Lori’s audience on a theme that I think rings well with the tone of her writing. I also studied the Middle Ages in school and came to love the period. Sure enough, in my upcoming novel Judgement’s Tale there is a predominantly medieval culture and technology, with some variations. In the excerpt I’m linking to here, the reader gets a first glimpse of a very Arthurian-style kingdom named Shilar, and the major character of Prince Gareth.
Shilar is named for one of the heroes of the elder days of The Lands of Hope, and the nation is situated the furthest east of the kingdoms (see the map), closest to the last place where the armies of Despair threatened the Lands nearly two thousand years ago. Taking up the challenge to keep watch over the mountains known as the Swords of Stone and guard against the return of evil, the knights of Shilar prize their honor and duties very seriously, with a rather complex code of chivalry closely resembling those which evolved here in the Alleged Real World.
All well and good, but it’s been twenty centuries since there was anything for these brave fellows to actually do. And just as they say in Community Theater, “the passions run so high because the stakes are so small”. The closest thing to an enemy the knights of Shilar have is the nomadic tribe of Bordbeyonds that live even further east of their kingdom, across the great River Sweeping and practically in the shadow of the Swords of Stone. These half-elves too have sworn to keep watch, but are not nearly as advanced or settled as the humans in Shilar.
With that backdrop we see in this excerpt the first public appearance of the character Gareth, and I hope you enjoy it. Judgement’s Tale Part One: Games of Chancewill be available July 4th 2014.
As we say in The Lands, Ar Aralte! (Hope Forever)
Link to the Gareth Excerpt
Judgement’s Tale Part One: Games of Chance
For twenty centuries the Lands of Hope prospered from their Heroes’ peace, but suffer now from their absence as a curse thickens over the central kingdom known as the Percentalion. An immortal omniscient conspirator schemes to escape the extra-worldly prison restraining his tide of undeath, using a demonic ally in a plot to bring back hell on earth. Solemn Judgement steps onto these Lands both a stranger and an orphan, driven to complete the lore his father died to give him.
In a world beset with increasing chaos, the bravest Children of Hope must take mortal risks. A young woodsman’s spear-cast, a desperate bid to save his comrades; the Healers Guildmistress’ cheery smile, hiding a grim secret and a heavy burden of guilt; the prince of Shilar’s speech in a foreign tongue, a gambit to avoid bloodshed or even war. As a new generation of heroes, scattered across the kingdoms, bets their lives and more, Solemn Judgement- soon to be known as The Man in Grey- must learn to play… Games of Chance: Part One of Judgement’s Tale
Wm. L. Hahn Bio
*Hmm, what happened to the picture with all the medieval weaponry, Will? Didn't want to scare 'em too soon?* Will Hahn has been in love with heroic tales since age four, when his father read him the Lays of Ancient Rome and the Tales of King Arthur. He taught Ancient-Medieval History for years, but the line between this world and others has always been thin; the far reaches of fantasy, like the distant past, still bring him face to face with people like us, who have choices to make. Will didn't always make the right choices when he was young. Any stick or vaguely-sticklike object became a sword in his hands, to the great dismay of his five sisters. Everyone survived, in part by virtue of a rule forbidding him from handling umbrellas, ski poles, curtain rods and more. Will has written about the Lands of Hope since his college days (which by now are also part of ancient history). With the publication of Judgement’s Tale Part One, Games of Chance, he begins at last to tell the tale of the Land’s most unique hero, The Man in Grey. CONTACT LINKS Will Hahn is the chronicler of the Lands of Hope tales.
The Plane of Dreams - See the trailer!
The Ring and the Flag - Try the Audio Book at Scribl!
Fencing Reputation - Three Minutes to Midnight -
The Book of Tales -
Will Hahn at Smashwords
Will’s Amazon Page Will’s B&N Page
Will's Blog Thoughts- Including tales of a happy childhood (which continues), hopes for a writer's journey, and analysis of Classics You've Never Read Rafflecopter of the Lands Contest Enter to win free Tales of Hope here!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I’m delighted at the chance to address Lori’s audience on a theme that I think rings well with the tone of her writing. I also studied the Middle Ages in school and came to love the period. Sure enough, in my upcoming novel Judgement’s Tale there is a predominantly medieval culture and technology, with some variations. In the excerpt I’m linking to here, the reader gets a first glimpse of a very Arthurian-style kingdom named Shilar, and the major character of Prince Gareth.Shilar is named for one of the heroes of the elder days of The Lands of Hope, and the nation is situated the furthest east of the kingdoms (see the map), closest to the last place where the armies of Despair threatened the Lands nearly two thousand years ago. Taking up the challenge to keep watch over the mountains known as the Swords of Stone and guard against the return of evil, the knights of Shilar prize their honor and duties very seriously, with a rather complex code of chivalry closely resembling those which evolved here in the Alleged Real World.
All well and good, but it’s been twenty centuries since there was anything for these brave fellows to actually do. And just as they say in Community Theater, “the passions run so high because the stakes are so small”. The closest thing to an enemy the knights of Shilar have is the nomadic tribe of Bordbeyonds that live even further east of their kingdom, across the great River Sweeping and practically in the shadow of the Swords of Stone. These half-elves too have sworn to keep watch, but are not nearly as advanced or settled as the humans in Shilar.With that backdrop we see in this excerpt the first public appearance of the character Gareth, and I hope you enjoy it. Judgement’s Tale Part One: Games of Chancewill be available July 4th 2014.
As we say in The Lands, Ar Aralte! (Hope Forever)
Link to the Gareth Excerpt
Judgement’s Tale Part One: Games of Chance
For twenty centuries the Lands of Hope prospered from their Heroes’ peace, but suffer now from their absence as a curse thickens over the central kingdom known as the Percentalion. An immortal omniscient conspirator schemes to escape the extra-worldly prison restraining his tide of undeath, using a demonic ally in a plot to bring back hell on earth. Solemn Judgement steps onto these Lands both a stranger and an orphan, driven to complete the lore his father died to give him.
In a world beset with increasing chaos, the bravest Children of Hope must take mortal risks. A young woodsman’s spear-cast, a desperate bid to save his comrades; the Healers Guildmistress’ cheery smile, hiding a grim secret and a heavy burden of guilt; the prince of Shilar’s speech in a foreign tongue, a gambit to avoid bloodshed or even war. As a new generation of heroes, scattered across the kingdoms, bets their lives and more, Solemn Judgement- soon to be known as The Man in Grey- must learn to play… Games of Chance: Part One of Judgement’s Tale
Wm. L. Hahn Bio
*Hmm, what happened to the picture with all the medieval weaponry, Will? Didn't want to scare 'em too soon?* Will Hahn has been in love with heroic tales since age four, when his father read him the Lays of Ancient Rome and the Tales of King Arthur. He taught Ancient-Medieval History for years, but the line between this world and others has always been thin; the far reaches of fantasy, like the distant past, still bring him face to face with people like us, who have choices to make. Will didn't always make the right choices when he was young. Any stick or vaguely-sticklike object became a sword in his hands, to the great dismay of his five sisters. Everyone survived, in part by virtue of a rule forbidding him from handling umbrellas, ski poles, curtain rods and more. Will has written about the Lands of Hope since his college days (which by now are also part of ancient history). With the publication of Judgement’s Tale Part One, Games of Chance, he begins at last to tell the tale of the Land’s most unique hero, The Man in Grey. CONTACT LINKS Will Hahn is the chronicler of the Lands of Hope tales.The Plane of Dreams - See the trailer!
The Ring and the Flag - Try the Audio Book at Scribl!
Fencing Reputation - Three Minutes to Midnight -
The Book of Tales -
Will Hahn at Smashwords
Will’s Amazon Page Will’s B&N Page
Will's Blog Thoughts- Including tales of a happy childhood (which continues), hopes for a writer's journey, and analysis of Classics You've Never Read Rafflecopter of the Lands Contest Enter to win free Tales of Hope here!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 5, 2014
Calling All Readers to Battle! COVER WARS! Join the Dragon Army!
Everyone wants a dragon on their side, right? What better way to win a battle, find treasure, or ensure a dashing knight falls in love with you, as Sir Gwydion fell for Rhiannon in The Dragon's Message? Dragons bring magic and majesty to a fantasy world. I've never grown tired of them, for each author breathes fiery (or icy, or electric) life into their own unique creatures.
One of my all-time favorite series, the one that I lived and breathed in high school, was the Dragonlance books.
It sparked my love of dragons, and I'll never forget the scene in Dragons of Winter Night when the companions come upon this in Ice Wall Castle while they are searching for a magical Dragon Orb:
"It was during their search that they came upon a startling sight - a huge dragon, over forty feet long, its skin a shimmering silver, completely encased in a wall of ice. The dragon's wings were spread, poised for flight. The dragon's expression was fierce, but the head was noble, and he did not inspire them with the fear and loathing they remembered experiencing around the red dragons. Instead, they felt a great, overwhelming sorrow for this magnificent creature."
A knight's corpse is sitting atop the dragon, holding a broken lance. One of the elves magically melts the ice and tries to pry the lance from the frozen rider, but it will not release. But when Sturm Brightblade, who lives by the knightly code, takes the lance, it seems as if the corpse relaxes and gives it to him. This, of course, is a remnant of the fabled dragonlance, and finding it will eventually turn the tide of the upcoming battles against the evil Dragon Highlords.
So you can see how dragons have always called to me. When I wanted to publish The Dragon's Message, I knew I needed a cover that portrayed the magic and majesty of these fantastical creatures. I turned to the extremely talented Najla Qamber Designs to put the vibrancy and power of my dragons and their medieval world into pictures...
Behold! Rhiannon, the Dragon Tome, Caer Idris, and one of her dragons with its ember breath. I think Najla nailed it, don't you? Now, Rhiannon and Sir Gwydion are calling all their liege readers to battle! The Dragon's Message is entered into The Masquerade Crew's June COVER WARS! It's a contest for readers' favorite covers, and I must say there are some great covers this month. But I think with the support of her readers and dragons, Rhiannon has an excellent chance at winning! If you like The Dragon's Message cover and love dragons, then check out the link below and support your local dragons by voting for THE DRAGON'S MESSAGE. VOTE FOR THE DRAGON'S MESSAGE IN THE COVER WARS HERE! And after you vote, head on over to my Author Facebook Page (you can like it here: White Raven Writing) and find The Dragon Army post. In the comments tell me you voted and you will be entered to win something dragon-ish (to be revealed...I have "crafty" connections) at the end of June. You can also tweet this blog post and tag me in it @MedievalLit for an entry as well. Each time you vote and tell me on Facebook or tweet about it (make sure you tag me) will be another entry! You can vote and enter my giveaway EVERY DAY! More chances for you AND the cover to win! Huzzah! And Rhiannon and Sir Gwydion promise an epic medieval celebration
if The Dragon's Message WINS the COVER WARS!' Knights and Dragons (and READERS) to the Battlefield!
*All Images from Pinterest. If an image is yours and you do not want it to be used, contact me and I will take it down.*
One of my all-time favorite series, the one that I lived and breathed in high school, was the Dragonlance books.
It sparked my love of dragons, and I'll never forget the scene in Dragons of Winter Night when the companions come upon this in Ice Wall Castle while they are searching for a magical Dragon Orb:
"It was during their search that they came upon a startling sight - a huge dragon, over forty feet long, its skin a shimmering silver, completely encased in a wall of ice. The dragon's wings were spread, poised for flight. The dragon's expression was fierce, but the head was noble, and he did not inspire them with the fear and loathing they remembered experiencing around the red dragons. Instead, they felt a great, overwhelming sorrow for this magnificent creature."
A knight's corpse is sitting atop the dragon, holding a broken lance. One of the elves magically melts the ice and tries to pry the lance from the frozen rider, but it will not release. But when Sturm Brightblade, who lives by the knightly code, takes the lance, it seems as if the corpse relaxes and gives it to him. This, of course, is a remnant of the fabled dragonlance, and finding it will eventually turn the tide of the upcoming battles against the evil Dragon Highlords.
So you can see how dragons have always called to me. When I wanted to publish The Dragon's Message, I knew I needed a cover that portrayed the magic and majesty of these fantastical creatures. I turned to the extremely talented Najla Qamber Designs to put the vibrancy and power of my dragons and their medieval world into pictures...
Behold! Rhiannon, the Dragon Tome, Caer Idris, and one of her dragons with its ember breath. I think Najla nailed it, don't you? Now, Rhiannon and Sir Gwydion are calling all their liege readers to battle! The Dragon's Message is entered into The Masquerade Crew's June COVER WARS! It's a contest for readers' favorite covers, and I must say there are some great covers this month. But I think with the support of her readers and dragons, Rhiannon has an excellent chance at winning! If you like The Dragon's Message cover and love dragons, then check out the link below and support your local dragons by voting for THE DRAGON'S MESSAGE. VOTE FOR THE DRAGON'S MESSAGE IN THE COVER WARS HERE! And after you vote, head on over to my Author Facebook Page (you can like it here: White Raven Writing) and find The Dragon Army post. In the comments tell me you voted and you will be entered to win something dragon-ish (to be revealed...I have "crafty" connections) at the end of June. You can also tweet this blog post and tag me in it @MedievalLit for an entry as well. Each time you vote and tell me on Facebook or tweet about it (make sure you tag me) will be another entry! You can vote and enter my giveaway EVERY DAY! More chances for you AND the cover to win! Huzzah! And Rhiannon and Sir Gwydion promise an epic medieval celebration
if The Dragon's Message WINS the COVER WARS!' Knights and Dragons (and READERS) to the Battlefield!
*All Images from Pinterest. If an image is yours and you do not want it to be used, contact me and I will take it down.*
May 10, 2014
Flash Fiction for Mother's Day: Stories
Her daughter’s birth was the turning point in the English teacher’s life story. Nestled with soft terrycloth-clad baby weight in the glider, she knew the life in the child’s veins was her own A- blood. An adopted child herself, the new mother finally had a wonderful gift, one she had longed for from childhood: the ability to see pieces of herself in another person. What could this former English teacher give her now, as a new mother, to show the child how enveloped her soul was with love for her?
She read her stories. First board books with colors and shapes, then little stories with bunnies and moons. She told her stories, sweet ones like when she first opened her eyes in the hospital and funny ones like when she yelled her brother’s name so close to her mother’s pregnant belly that the baby kicked. The child would giggle, “Tell me again about me.” And again. And again.
She started school, and every night she would beg her mother to read to her in bed. The child’s hair grew longer, straighter, as did her legs. Her eyes turned a strange greenish-bluish-gray to match her mother’s. They read longer books. Suddenly, the words unlocked for the child, and she could read: chapter books, paperbacks that her mother catches herself reading when the girl is at school, books about fairies and magic tree houses. Now she is seven, and she reads herself to sleep. She only needs her mother to put out the light.
One night the child came downstairs waving a novel about a kid’s diary. “Mom, this is sooooo funny! Please, please, please, come to my room so I can read it to you!”
And that was the best gift that a former English teacher mom could ever have.
(298 words)
Author’s Note: This flash was originally written for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop section. The prompt was "Stories" and the instructions were to write "a tale of tales." *Images from Pinterest*
May 8, 2014
Union of Renegades Book Blast: Indie Fantasy for People Who Don’t Do What They’re Told
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Get Thee to the Book Blast! Fantasy Author Tracy Falbe is offering a wonderful chance to pick up some adventurous reads for FREE! I've read Tracy Falbe's new release, Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale. Set in 1561 Bohemia, it's a historical paranormal romance of humanity shaking off obedience. It's crafted with a vivid historical setting and great attention to detail. Read on for a taste of Tracy's other worlds...
Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I is a free fantasy ebook worldwide. This week fantasy fans can sign up to receive a coupon to get The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II ebook for free. See details below.
About Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I
The epic begins as Dreibrand Veta and the conquering Horde of the Atrophane Empire reach a mythic Wilderness that beckons with a magical call to glory. But Onja, Queen of the rys, a race far more powerful than the greatest human state, guards this land. She has the power to imprison souls and her genocidal rage is legendary. Everything is at risk for her desperate enemies, the union of renegades.
Meet the Players – Insights into the Main Characters in Union of Renegades by Tracy Falbe
Dreibrand Veta is in his early 20s when the saga begins. He’s been fighting with the conquering horde of the Atrophane Empire for two years. He is a character born of my disgust with following rules and not getting what you want. He’s an ambitious person but he’s done some things he’s not proud of. When he finds out he’s not going to earn what he expects for his efforts, he makes a decision that will change his life and ultimately influence the history of his world.
Mirandarepresents a woman at the bottom deciding she’s not going to take it anymore. When I developed the heroine for Union of Renegades I very much did not want her to be an innocent young female. She came from the place inside me that weeps for the suffering and oppression faced by so many women in the world. When the story opens she is kept as a slave by an abusive master. She’s also the mother of two young children. Although she is a compassionate person there is an edge inside her sharpened by hard use.
Shan is a rys with immense magical powers. All rys possess magic but the elite among them are capable of battle magic, mind reading, healing, and even enslaving the souls of the dying. Shan is a young rys who wants to overthrow Onja who rules their race and the humans of the western tribal kingdoms. He abhors her wicked tyranny but to challenge her he must use his magic to kill, something his good heart has never allowed him to do before.
Onja is the Queen of the rys and the Goddess of the people. She has ruled for over two thousand years. Her character represents the status quo, the all-powerful always-been. She believes she has the right to rule because she made the world as it is. During her long reign she closed off her realm from the east with a haunted wilderness, but when a curious whim prompts her to let people through everything will change.
You can download this novel and enter the world of The Rys Chronicles for free.
Brave Luck Books http://www.falbepublishing.com/braveluck/Union_of_Renegades.html
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/939
Kindle US http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UES7U8
Kindle UKhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003UES7U8
Kindle Canadahttp://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003UES7U8
Kindle Australiahttps://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B003UES7U8
Kindle Francehttp://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B003UES7U8
Nook United States http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/union-of-renegades-tracy-falbe/1102264133?ean=2940000720509
Nook United Kingdom http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/union-of-renegades-the-rys-chronicles-book-i-by-tracy-falbe/2940000720509
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/en/book/union-renegades-the-rys-chronicles/id365801314?mt=11
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/union-of-renegades-the-rys-chronicles-book-i
How to get The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II for free ($4.99 value)
It’s easy. Join my email list and I’ll email you a Smashwords coupon to get The Goddess Queen in your choice of ebook format. Smashwords serves readers worldwide. Fill out the form at this link http://eepurl.com/Tb_9P and I’ll email everyone the coupon code on May 10th. (Form link will expire on May 10th.)
Read 3 Chapters Right Now http://www.slideshare.net/Braveluck/u...
Fantasy Book Union of Renegades 3-Chapter Preview from Tracy Falbe
April 8, 2014
The Dragon's Message Ebook Release
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
A dragon writes a cryptic message with its ember breath in the evening sky...
Lady Rhiannon watches from the turret wall with an ache in her blood. She's the only person who can decipher the message as the sole keeper of the Dragon Tome. When an old enemy threatens the castle, her father charges his knight with escorting her to a safe haven—the same knight Rhiannon had a crush on as a girl. But she must now convince him to change his plans, for she has her own sacred charge to fulfill...
So begins a journey to hidden ruins where magic slumbers in the stones and love lies in the heart, waiting to awaken. As Rhiannon and the knight face seemingly insurmountable odds, only the dragon knows if they can fulfill their destiny...
The Dragon's Message is available now on Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Nook
Enjoy an exclusive excerpt: When Rhiannon was small and had just learned to read, her mother brought her into the hall one day when her father was on campaign, and led her to the large table upon which a great map of their lands lay. She instructed Rhiannon to read the words of the landmarks: castle, road, mountain, forest, village. The young girl touched words inscribed over a place where trees met craggy peaks. “What does that say, my love?” her mother prompted. “Here be dragons,” Rhiannon answered, glancing up at her mother. Her mother nodded, smiling. She knelt down in front of Rhiannon so they were at the same height. The lady’s hazel eyes sparkled as she whispered, “I have a secret to share. But I can only share it with a little girl with red and gold hair,” she pulled playfully on Rhiannon’s braid,” who knows how to read.” Rhiannon giggled. “Are you a little girl such as this?” Rhiannon nodded eagerly, and her mother laughed. She stood up and gestured at a tapestry on the wall. “Come, child, the dragon guards our treasure.” Hand in hand they walked to the tapestry of the sleeping dragon. “Your great-great grandmother wove this tapestry when she was an old woman. It took her a long time to complete, with her hands gnarled so, like the twisted oak by the drawbridge.” The dragon was curled up in front of a turret, with stone dolmens in a semi-circle behind it, interspersed with trees and a mountain peak in the background and bright blue sky above. The dragon’s scales were crimson and woven through with glittering gold thread, and its curved horns and talons were gold. As they paused in front of the large tapestry, Rhiannon looked closely at the eyes of the dragon; she thought perhaps she could see a slit of gold, as if the dragon were only pretending to be asleep. Rhiannon’s mother stood on tiptoe and moved part of the tapestry to the side, revealing a slit in the stone wall. With her free hand she reached in and drew out a large leather-bound tome. She motioned her daughter to come sit with her on one of the benches that lined the walls. “Look and listen well, my daughter,” she said, and ran her fingers along the smooth cover, “this book is our special treasure, and it contains many secrets within its pages. I am going to teach you how to read them.” She opened the book as Rhiannon snuggled closer to her, her mother’s loose red-gold hair falling over the girl’s shoulder and brushing the crinkly parchment pages of the book which she turned until she came to the picture of a girl. “The first secret is a story…” Huzzah! Praise for The Dragon's Message: "It is a beautifully imagined tale, perfect for curling up under the covers with for an hour or so and falling under the dragon's spell." ~Christine
"Fitzgerald's writing style is poetic and rife with compelling descriptions of medievalesque life that make her novella a true cut above the usual fantasy fare." ~Angel Wing Buyer
"It is romantic, inspiring, and quite the surprise at its satisfying end." ~Augusta McCrae Enter the world of the Dragon Tome and discover its secrets!
~Cover design by Najla Qamber Designs~ *"The Dragon's Message" was originally published in Mystic Signals Magazine Issue 19 August 2013*
A dragon writes a cryptic message with its ember breath in the evening sky...
Lady Rhiannon watches from the turret wall with an ache in her blood. She's the only person who can decipher the message as the sole keeper of the Dragon Tome. When an old enemy threatens the castle, her father charges his knight with escorting her to a safe haven—the same knight Rhiannon had a crush on as a girl. But she must now convince him to change his plans, for she has her own sacred charge to fulfill...
So begins a journey to hidden ruins where magic slumbers in the stones and love lies in the heart, waiting to awaken. As Rhiannon and the knight face seemingly insurmountable odds, only the dragon knows if they can fulfill their destiny...
The Dragon's Message is available now on Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Nook
Enjoy an exclusive excerpt: When Rhiannon was small and had just learned to read, her mother brought her into the hall one day when her father was on campaign, and led her to the large table upon which a great map of their lands lay. She instructed Rhiannon to read the words of the landmarks: castle, road, mountain, forest, village. The young girl touched words inscribed over a place where trees met craggy peaks. “What does that say, my love?” her mother prompted. “Here be dragons,” Rhiannon answered, glancing up at her mother. Her mother nodded, smiling. She knelt down in front of Rhiannon so they were at the same height. The lady’s hazel eyes sparkled as she whispered, “I have a secret to share. But I can only share it with a little girl with red and gold hair,” she pulled playfully on Rhiannon’s braid,” who knows how to read.” Rhiannon giggled. “Are you a little girl such as this?” Rhiannon nodded eagerly, and her mother laughed. She stood up and gestured at a tapestry on the wall. “Come, child, the dragon guards our treasure.” Hand in hand they walked to the tapestry of the sleeping dragon. “Your great-great grandmother wove this tapestry when she was an old woman. It took her a long time to complete, with her hands gnarled so, like the twisted oak by the drawbridge.” The dragon was curled up in front of a turret, with stone dolmens in a semi-circle behind it, interspersed with trees and a mountain peak in the background and bright blue sky above. The dragon’s scales were crimson and woven through with glittering gold thread, and its curved horns and talons were gold. As they paused in front of the large tapestry, Rhiannon looked closely at the eyes of the dragon; she thought perhaps she could see a slit of gold, as if the dragon were only pretending to be asleep. Rhiannon’s mother stood on tiptoe and moved part of the tapestry to the side, revealing a slit in the stone wall. With her free hand she reached in and drew out a large leather-bound tome. She motioned her daughter to come sit with her on one of the benches that lined the walls. “Look and listen well, my daughter,” she said, and ran her fingers along the smooth cover, “this book is our special treasure, and it contains many secrets within its pages. I am going to teach you how to read them.” She opened the book as Rhiannon snuggled closer to her, her mother’s loose red-gold hair falling over the girl’s shoulder and brushing the crinkly parchment pages of the book which she turned until she came to the picture of a girl. “The first secret is a story…” Huzzah! Praise for The Dragon's Message: "It is a beautifully imagined tale, perfect for curling up under the covers with for an hour or so and falling under the dragon's spell." ~Christine
"Fitzgerald's writing style is poetic and rife with compelling descriptions of medievalesque life that make her novella a true cut above the usual fantasy fare." ~Angel Wing Buyer
"It is romantic, inspiring, and quite the surprise at its satisfying end." ~Augusta McCrae Enter the world of the Dragon Tome and discover its secrets!
~Cover design by Najla Qamber Designs~ *"The Dragon's Message" was originally published in Mystic Signals Magazine Issue 19 August 2013*
January 10, 2014
Once Upon A Fan - Magic is Here!
A TV show changed my life.
That must sound so weird, so shallow, to people who don't understand. But if you are a Oncer, you more than understand. You feel it too, deep within you. That profound effect that usually only people or life events (or in my case, as an English Major, books) can have in altering your perception of yourself and/or the universe. It causes you to act differently, to take the road less traveled. Yeah, a TV show did that.
Before October 2011 I would have scoffed at the idea of a TV show having that much impact on me. I was never a big TV watcher. Oh, over the years I had my shows that I followed, like Buffy and X-files, but I was never as invested in them as I was in my favorite book series, never as touched emotionally or intellectually by them as I was by my well-worn Wuthering Heights, Le Morte Darthur, or my collections of T.S. Eliot or the Bard himself. But the minute the opening scene of Once Upon a Time's pilot unfolded before my eyes, I was enthralled.
By the end of the episode, and increasingly with each episode thereafter, I was hooked through the heart by the characters, the intriguing plot, and the timeless resonance of the literary themes of hope, true love, and redemption.
As with many of us, "Skin Deep" in Season 1 was a real turning point for me. Rumple shattered the glass cabinet in rage and desperation on the screen, and something shattered within me.
This TV show was no longer just entertainment; it became something deeper than that. It was a book for me, a literary expression that I could not get out of my head, and I became desperate to find people who understood exactly how I felt, desperate for an outlet to talk about the show with the passion that I felt for it and the literary analysis it inspired in me.
"We will always find each other."
I found Once Upon a Fan. There were other sites as I surfed around the web, but this one had the upfront news I craved, the passion and creativity and humor in the pictures and the fanfiction that kept me coming back for more each day. And, best of all, it had people who were in love with the show, as I was (and still am). I think joining Once Upon a Fan on the website, Facebook, and Twitter is when I truly became a Oncer, a part of a real, vital fan community.
"With one breath, with one flow/ You will know/ Synchronicity." The Police
It happened fast, the changes. I posted comments on Facebook, Twitter, and the website, interacting with other Oncers and forming friendships. One of the first cast interviews was with Lee Arenberg, and I remember tweeting him and Diane Reed, the interviewer, about how impressed I was with the quality of the interview. And they both answered me! I learned that Diane was a published author, and she encouraged me to re-kindle the spark of creative fire that watching Once and reading the fanfiction had brought out in me, and I began to write my own stories again. Chris and Teresa, Oncers who began by writing fan-fiction and became staff members, also became my beta editors for my own work. And I was inspired to write my first Origins articles, after which Gareth (site founder and our fearless leader) asked me, to my utter delight, to become a Staff Writer for the fansite. To top it all off, my own novelette was published, which was an old dream come true. What a whirlwind! I made so many new, lovely, creative friends, became a published author and OUAF Staff Writer, and had the opportunity to go to Enchantacon at the Doubletree Hilton in Orlando and meet these Oncers and some of the cast (like the gracious Raphael Sbarge), as well as to be our fan panel moderator. Once Upon a Time was the crucible for all these wonderful, life-changing events, but really it was the fandom and Once Upon a Fan that inspired me even further, to take what the show was offering me and act upon my creativity. I believe that everything happens for a reason: it was truly synchronicity for me, a magical chain of events that helped me to further realize my best self, my true self, as a writer again.
"The Dragon's Message" as it originally appeared in Mystic Signals Magazine
Magic is Here!
One hundred and forty characters is simply not enough to explain why I nominate Once Upon a Fan for a Shorty Award in the #fansite category (obviously...hence this blog post). But I bet that I'm not the only one who has been affected in a positive, life-changing way by the fandom in general and Once Upon a Fan in particular. I cannot tell you enough how much I adore and admire the fansite for its dedication, its positive attitude, its enthusiasm, humor, and constant evolution. I am proud and so eternally grateful to be a staff member, for the opportunity not only to be a part of this Oncer family and the wonderful charitable works they do, but to have an outlet to express my literary-minded thoughts on the show. And, of course, to have a safe, non-judgmental place to fangirl. A lot.
*This post was originally published for the Shorty Awards*
"We will always find each other."
That must sound so weird, so shallow, to people who don't understand. But if you are a Oncer, you more than understand. You feel it too, deep within you. That profound effect that usually only people or life events (or in my case, as an English Major, books) can have in altering your perception of yourself and/or the universe. It causes you to act differently, to take the road less traveled. Yeah, a TV show did that.
Before October 2011 I would have scoffed at the idea of a TV show having that much impact on me. I was never a big TV watcher. Oh, over the years I had my shows that I followed, like Buffy and X-files, but I was never as invested in them as I was in my favorite book series, never as touched emotionally or intellectually by them as I was by my well-worn Wuthering Heights, Le Morte Darthur, or my collections of T.S. Eliot or the Bard himself. But the minute the opening scene of Once Upon a Time's pilot unfolded before my eyes, I was enthralled.
By the end of the episode, and increasingly with each episode thereafter, I was hooked through the heart by the characters, the intriguing plot, and the timeless resonance of the literary themes of hope, true love, and redemption. 
As with many of us, "Skin Deep" in Season 1 was a real turning point for me. Rumple shattered the glass cabinet in rage and desperation on the screen, and something shattered within me. 
This TV show was no longer just entertainment; it became something deeper than that. It was a book for me, a literary expression that I could not get out of my head, and I became desperate to find people who understood exactly how I felt, desperate for an outlet to talk about the show with the passion that I felt for it and the literary analysis it inspired in me.
"We will always find each other."
I found Once Upon a Fan. There were other sites as I surfed around the web, but this one had the upfront news I craved, the passion and creativity and humor in the pictures and the fanfiction that kept me coming back for more each day. And, best of all, it had people who were in love with the show, as I was (and still am). I think joining Once Upon a Fan on the website, Facebook, and Twitter is when I truly became a Oncer, a part of a real, vital fan community.
"With one breath, with one flow/ You will know/ Synchronicity." The Police
It happened fast, the changes. I posted comments on Facebook, Twitter, and the website, interacting with other Oncers and forming friendships. One of the first cast interviews was with Lee Arenberg, and I remember tweeting him and Diane Reed, the interviewer, about how impressed I was with the quality of the interview. And they both answered me! I learned that Diane was a published author, and she encouraged me to re-kindle the spark of creative fire that watching Once and reading the fanfiction had brought out in me, and I began to write my own stories again. Chris and Teresa, Oncers who began by writing fan-fiction and became staff members, also became my beta editors for my own work. And I was inspired to write my first Origins articles, after which Gareth (site founder and our fearless leader) asked me, to my utter delight, to become a Staff Writer for the fansite. To top it all off, my own novelette was published, which was an old dream come true. What a whirlwind! I made so many new, lovely, creative friends, became a published author and OUAF Staff Writer, and had the opportunity to go to Enchantacon at the Doubletree Hilton in Orlando and meet these Oncers and some of the cast (like the gracious Raphael Sbarge), as well as to be our fan panel moderator. Once Upon a Time was the crucible for all these wonderful, life-changing events, but really it was the fandom and Once Upon a Fan that inspired me even further, to take what the show was offering me and act upon my creativity. I believe that everything happens for a reason: it was truly synchronicity for me, a magical chain of events that helped me to further realize my best self, my true self, as a writer again. 
"The Dragon's Message" as it originally appeared in Mystic Signals Magazine
Magic is Here!
One hundred and forty characters is simply not enough to explain why I nominate Once Upon a Fan for a Shorty Award in the #fansite category (obviously...hence this blog post). But I bet that I'm not the only one who has been affected in a positive, life-changing way by the fandom in general and Once Upon a Fan in particular. I cannot tell you enough how much I adore and admire the fansite for its dedication, its positive attitude, its enthusiasm, humor, and constant evolution. I am proud and so eternally grateful to be a staff member, for the opportunity not only to be a part of this Oncer family and the wonderful charitable works they do, but to have an outlet to express my literary-minded thoughts on the show. And, of course, to have a safe, non-judgmental place to fangirl. A lot. 
*This post was originally published for the Shorty Awards*
"We will always find each other."
June 8, 2013
Fragmented
I don't usually write fan fiction, but after Once Upon a Time's Episode "The Outsider" in the middle of Season 2, poor hospitalized Belle was whispering to me all through the night, and she wouldn't stop until I put this one-shot down on paper. I hope you enjoy my one (and only, maybe?) fan fiction, and you can find more links to creative Once Upon a Time fan fiction and fan art on Once Upon a Fan. 
The girl huddled in the bed, knees up to her chin, and found her confinement in the hospital room dismaying but familiar. She took slight comfort in this familiarity because she had no other. She briefly thought she might like a story to contrast the bare sterility of her surroundings, but she wasn’t sure. Perhaps she would be more content to sit folded up like a closed book. Eyes shut, she measured each of her exhales like a slash on a wall.
*****
A feathery touch across her lips drew her gently from sleep. The kiss spread the warmth of a hearth throughout her limbs, and she knew that when she opened her eyes she would be home. But the man in the suit loomed in front of her, brown eyes wide with tremulous hope. Black wings of fear unfurled and beat frantically against the girl’s mind, and in that instant she saw dark feathers spring from his coat, this beast who could wield fire in his hand. She shoved him away, the fear gouting from her in a cacophony of madness; it was only when her voice was spent that she heard his apologies, saw the shocked sadness in his eyes as he practically threw himself from the room, and realized that his suit was just a well-tailored suit.
*****
It was the emotion in his eyes that moved her to grudgingly allow him entry in the morning. He pushed a cup into her hands, urging her to focus. It’s just a cup, she said, and with those words a dark sense of déjà vu rustled the wings in her mind. Then he spoke of impossible, fairy tale things, and the panicked drum of wings drowned out his voice and her reason. In a gust of frustrated fear she sent his cup flying to the wall. Just go away, she demanded shrilly, and chanced a sideways glance up at him. His expression was as shattered as the cup. He turned to her, eyes stunned and unfocused. Hot shame rose in her cheeks, and she folded herself up again, barely hearing his choked apology, and staring down at the bedsheets as he limped out the door. She curled up, blanket to her nose, and shook and shook for hours. When her nerves finally stopped humming enough that she could stand, she shuffled on numbed feet to the end of the bed to look at the destroyed cup. Now she realized his insistence had been fueled by desperation, and it suddenly felt wrong that she had caused him such misery when blinded by her selfish fear. It was not like her to display such lack of empathy. Was it? She picked up a shard of the cup.
The nurse appeared in the doorway. I…this cup broke, the girl replied to the nurse’s query. The man in the suit said it would help me remember, she continued. Tell me, have I lost my memory? The nurse shooed her back to bed with such a pitying look that the girl knew the answer. After checking her blood pressure, the nurse gently reprimanded her. She needed to calm down and rest.
The girl looked at the shard in her hand. It was painted with a delicate vein of blue. She held it in her palm and compared it to the blue webwork in her own wrist. An orderly came in to clean up, sweeping the floor, emptying the waste bin. Fragmented, the girl thought. What I know of myself is this fragment, and the rest of my life has been swept away. She traced the blue line with her fingertip, over and over, until drowsiness pressed on her. As she sank down, an overwhelming compulsion tugged at her to tuck the shard under her pillow. Suspicious alarm made her drop it instead into the night table drawer.
On the precipice of sleep she heard a ticking, rattling sound, a familiar sound. Moving towards it she saw a spinning wheel turning, gleaming with light from the rich oiled wood and glints of gold thread. The figure sitting at it was blurred, but she was not afraid. She watched the wheel and listened to its slow clockwork creak and felt at home. A thought unbidden came: He used it to forget. Can I use it to remember? The sound led her into a long, deep sleep.
*****
The next morning the girl had no recollection of the spinning wheel. But the wings of fear had dissolved, leaving her mind calm, and she was ready to listen reasonably when the doctor and a girl in a red shirt came in to talk with her. They told her that her name was Belle.
When they left, she rubbed the shard of the cup between her fingers, waiting. But the man in the suit did not come back that day.
All images from my Once Upon a Time Pinterest BoardMay 21, 2013
Coral Roses and Mermaids: A Review of The Selkie Sorceress by Sophie Moss
Roses "the color of an autumn sky on fire" (p.36) are the motif of warning and magic in the eagerly awaited third book of indie author Sophie Moss's Seal Island Trilogy. The Selkie Sorceress is true to its title in being just as spellbinding as The Selkie Spell and The Selkie Enchantress (check out my previous post in October 2012 reviewing these two books). Although Sorceress follows the trilogy's pattern of focusing on the romantic conflicts of two main characters, this contemporary fantasy-romance raises the stakes to a final battle which threatens all of the characters in this Irish island setting crafted so vividly by the author.
The main character, Glenna, daughter of the Sea Witch with secrets to keep about her parentage, struggles with her perception of her destiny and her belief that she is cursed and too dangerous to love. We are poignantly drawn into Glenna's inner conflict between her sense of self and her desire to love and be loved by Sam, the private detective who is able to see her more clearly than she can see herself: "She had tried to warn him. But he refused to believe her. Couldn't he see that inside, she was nothing but thorns?" (p.128) Their chemistry literally sizzles on the page: "Fire glinted in those whiskey eyes as he claimed her mouth in another scorching kiss." (p.79) But what made my heart pound more was Sam's sometimes angry persistence that Glenna and he are meant to be together and his belief that love can overcome any obstacle. This strength of conviction (besides his gorgeously described physical traits) make him an even sexier character!
Each one of the characters that I have grown to love throughout the trilogy has a special part to play in the larger story of the conflict between the Sea Witch, the selkies, and the mermaids, and they rally together to fight for each other and their island home. Ultimately this action-packed book is a powerfully touching story of the bonds of love between family and community. Sophie Moss does a wonderful job of unfolding the mysterious connection among the selkies, the fairy tale of The Little Mermaid, and Dominic and Liam's lost mother Brigid in surprising and satisfying pieces sprinkled with Irish myth and folk traditions throughout her narrative.
As in the previous books, the author continues to paint fantastic images with her words, so that the characters, plot, and setting spring forth from the page to swim before your eyes. So we enter the Sea Witch's lair:
She averted her eyes from the garden of ghostly black roses that undulated in the currents outside the gaping mouth of the sea witch's cave. She swam inside, ignoring the scream of the eels behind her. A black cauldron bubbled and a pool of lava heated it from below. The gleaming ebony walls were covered in iron shelves filled with small glass vials. The vials held anemones, salmon scales, starfish tips, and squid ink - ingredients for her spells. (p. 63)
And in Glenna's cottage, Tara, the protagonist from The Selkie Spell, discovers a sinister book:
Tara's heart pounded as the wind caught the pages, blowing them out like a fan. They yellowed before her eyes, crinkling and stiffening with age. They made a dry scraping sound like dead leaves skittering over a city street in the fall. The leather creaked and stretched in her palms as the pages - blank before - filled with ancient Gaelic letters scrawled in black ink. (p.91)
Sophie Moss's craft with language truly creates magic in The Selkie Sorceress!
The design team, Blue Harvest Creative, did a lovely job with the cover and layout of the e-book format that I read (they designed the paperbacks as well); it really evoked the rose and sea motifs of the book. Some independently published e-books I have read have been awkwardly formatted and that, for me, detracts from the experience of the story. However, even though I have the Seal Island Trilogy in eye-pleasing e-book form, I still bought the paperbacks! Here they are:
I am so inspired by Sophie Moss's creation of a trilogy of books that are filled with endearing, interwoven characters, romance, magic, and a story with rich, timeless themes that I had to make room for her work on my bookshelves! I highly recommend The Selkie Sorceress as well as the first two books, and I encourage fantasy/romance readers and writers to check out the author's website Sophie Moss Writes where you can learn more about her and her craft, read some of her stunning flash fiction, and find new writers as well. Perhaps we'll see more of Seal Island on her website in the future; I hope there is a tale waiting to be told about the mysterious Aidan! (No pressure, Sophie!) Follow her on twitter @SMossWrites and on Pinterest (the images in this post are from Sophie's Sorceress and Mermaids boards). She is an all-around lovely person and inspirational writer.
The Selkie Spell, The Selkie Enchantress, and The Selkie Sorceress are available as e-books and paperbacks from Amazon. Get thee to the Amazon store today!
The main character, Glenna, daughter of the Sea Witch with secrets to keep about her parentage, struggles with her perception of her destiny and her belief that she is cursed and too dangerous to love. We are poignantly drawn into Glenna's inner conflict between her sense of self and her desire to love and be loved by Sam, the private detective who is able to see her more clearly than she can see herself: "She had tried to warn him. But he refused to believe her. Couldn't he see that inside, she was nothing but thorns?" (p.128) Their chemistry literally sizzles on the page: "Fire glinted in those whiskey eyes as he claimed her mouth in another scorching kiss." (p.79) But what made my heart pound more was Sam's sometimes angry persistence that Glenna and he are meant to be together and his belief that love can overcome any obstacle. This strength of conviction (besides his gorgeously described physical traits) make him an even sexier character!
Each one of the characters that I have grown to love throughout the trilogy has a special part to play in the larger story of the conflict between the Sea Witch, the selkies, and the mermaids, and they rally together to fight for each other and their island home. Ultimately this action-packed book is a powerfully touching story of the bonds of love between family and community. Sophie Moss does a wonderful job of unfolding the mysterious connection among the selkies, the fairy tale of The Little Mermaid, and Dominic and Liam's lost mother Brigid in surprising and satisfying pieces sprinkled with Irish myth and folk traditions throughout her narrative.
As in the previous books, the author continues to paint fantastic images with her words, so that the characters, plot, and setting spring forth from the page to swim before your eyes. So we enter the Sea Witch's lair:
She averted her eyes from the garden of ghostly black roses that undulated in the currents outside the gaping mouth of the sea witch's cave. She swam inside, ignoring the scream of the eels behind her. A black cauldron bubbled and a pool of lava heated it from below. The gleaming ebony walls were covered in iron shelves filled with small glass vials. The vials held anemones, salmon scales, starfish tips, and squid ink - ingredients for her spells. (p. 63)
And in Glenna's cottage, Tara, the protagonist from The Selkie Spell, discovers a sinister book:
Tara's heart pounded as the wind caught the pages, blowing them out like a fan. They yellowed before her eyes, crinkling and stiffening with age. They made a dry scraping sound like dead leaves skittering over a city street in the fall. The leather creaked and stretched in her palms as the pages - blank before - filled with ancient Gaelic letters scrawled in black ink. (p.91)
Sophie Moss's craft with language truly creates magic in The Selkie Sorceress!
The design team, Blue Harvest Creative, did a lovely job with the cover and layout of the e-book format that I read (they designed the paperbacks as well); it really evoked the rose and sea motifs of the book. Some independently published e-books I have read have been awkwardly formatted and that, for me, detracts from the experience of the story. However, even though I have the Seal Island Trilogy in eye-pleasing e-book form, I still bought the paperbacks! Here they are:
I am so inspired by Sophie Moss's creation of a trilogy of books that are filled with endearing, interwoven characters, romance, magic, and a story with rich, timeless themes that I had to make room for her work on my bookshelves! I highly recommend The Selkie Sorceress as well as the first two books, and I encourage fantasy/romance readers and writers to check out the author's website Sophie Moss Writes where you can learn more about her and her craft, read some of her stunning flash fiction, and find new writers as well. Perhaps we'll see more of Seal Island on her website in the future; I hope there is a tale waiting to be told about the mysterious Aidan! (No pressure, Sophie!) Follow her on twitter @SMossWrites and on Pinterest (the images in this post are from Sophie's Sorceress and Mermaids boards). She is an all-around lovely person and inspirational writer.
The Selkie Spell, The Selkie Enchantress, and The Selkie Sorceress are available as e-books and paperbacks from Amazon. Get thee to the Amazon store today!
January 2, 2013
12 Days Blog Hop: Stories
Her daughter’s birth was the turning point in the English teacher’s life story. Nestled with soft terrycloth-clad baby weight in the glider, she knew the life in the child’s veins was her own A- blood. An adopted child herself, the new mother finally had a wonderful gift, one she had longed for from childhood: the ability to see pieces of herself in another person. What could this former English teacher give her now, as a new mother, to show the child how enveloped her soul was with love for her?
She read her stories. First board books with colors and shapes, then little stories with bunnies and moons. She told her stories, sweet ones like when she first opened her eyes in the hospital and funny ones like when she yelled her brother’s name so close to her mother’s pregnant belly that the baby kicked. The child would giggle, “Tell me again about me.” And again. And again.
She started school, and every night she would beg her mother to read to her in bed. The child’s hair grew longer, straighter, as did her legs. Her eyes turned a strange greenish-bluish-gray to match her mother’s. They read longer books. Suddenly, the words unlocked for the child, and she could read: chapter books, paperbacks that her mother catches herself reading when the girl is at school, books about fairies and magic tree houses. Now she is seven, and she reads herself to sleep. She only needs her mother to put out the light.
One night the child came downstairs waving a novel about a kid’s diary. “Mom, this is sooooo funny! Please, please, please, come to my room so I can read it to you!”
And that was the best gift that a former English teacher mom could ever have.
(298 words)
Author’s Note: This flash was written for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop on Rowanwolf's blog, A Jar of Fireflies http://ajaroffireflies.blogspot.co.uk/ . Thanks to Chris Fitzner for making me aware of this blog hop. Check out her exquisite entry for "Sea," on her blog Whirlwind, and check out all the other creative entries for the entire hop.This story was originally written in first person, but then I changed it to third person for the sake of making it a “tale of tales,” as the blog hop introduction suggests. Claire, this story is for you. I love you above and beyond words, my daughter.
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November 19, 2012
Poetry: The Stone Queen
Grasping fingers of icy sea wind
lift strings of my unbound hair,
reanimating wooden limbs petrified
by seasonless cold and endless inertia,
dragging me atop the bleak turret of my prison tower,
battering me into another beckoning.
Quill staggers clotted ink across parchment.
The missive unfurls and glides along the cliffs,
riding the roads of air currents towards a far forest.
My gown’s sleeves, salt-stiffened tatters, slap against the stone wall:
the only war banners of my quest.
I wait, a stone sentry again, until…
I can almost hear your heralds’ trumpets clarion call
cutting through the dragon roar of damp gusts in my ears.
Almost hear the ringing mail mingling with the pounding gait of your steed
drumming through the churn of furious surf below.
It must be the silver glint of your armor that pierces my sight,
and not the sun’s glare mixed with tears in my aching eyes.
Close them, shut out the wind and sea and sun, so I can see you
in the solace of my mind.
Pretend the tears that trace down my face are your fingers:
the champion knight finally come to rescue his numbed queen…
But I know it is to empty ragged rock and endless sea that the unrelenting wind
compels me to beckon,
And my written page wanders, tempest-tossed, a wayward messenger hawk.
I do not really expect a reply, but I shall stand watch nevertheless,
for now I have nothing else to do,
(and no more parchment besides),
but listen to the moan of the sea wind sliding
through the rusting links of closed drawbridge chains.
